Nigerians have lamented the N2000 fee imposed on vehicles picking up passengers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. Vehicle owners must pay this exorbitant fee before accessing the airport’s arrival gate. The charge was introduced by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and has drawn widespread criticism.
Some travellers also complained about the high taxes and charges at Nigerian airports, arguing that these costs far exceed those at airports in other countries.
The major issue for me is that the airports don’t look where so much money is collected from the passengers. They are largely deplorable, and everywhere you go, airport workers are begging you for money… Everything about our airport is hostile everywhere, one passenger told THISDAY.
He added that his wife had been asked to pay N2000 to pick him up, a significant increase from the N500 fee charged the previous month.
FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Obiageli Orah, claimed that the fee was introduced to encourage motorists to use the multi-story car park. Those who drive directly to arrivals are charged N2000.
Despite widespread hardship, in March 2017, FAAN announced the introduction of E-tags, which will grant access to all 24 federal airports in the country. According to a FAAN public announcement, E-tag sales follow a presidential directive approved by the Federal Executive Council.
This directive mandates that all users of federal airports must pay tolls at the gates. FAAN stated that motorists without E-tags can still pay cash at the access gates, but those who fail will be denied entry. Nigerians have condemned mainly these recent taxes and charges which make air travel a luxury for ordinary people.
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